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Recline adjustment apparatusRecline adjustment apparatus description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060208547, Recline adjustment apparatus. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention relates to a recline adjustment apparatus. More specifically, the invention relates to a recline adjustment apparatus for a rearwardly-facing child vehicle seat. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] During proper installation of a rearwardly-facing child car seat (RFCCS) in an automobile, the car seat recline angle should be approximately 45 degrees relative to the vehicle seat. This angle optimizes child comfort. Child car seats and vehicle seats have different angles. The slope of the vehicle seat may raise the back of the child car seat too much, putting the infant in an upright rather than reclined position. For example, a caregiver may install a child car seat in a vehicle correctly, except to find that the seats of the vehicle are at such a steep angle that the child car seat is not oriented at the optimal 45-degree recline angle. [0003] Child car seat manufacturers have tried to ensure that the child car seat can be installed at a 45 degree recline angle by building in an angle-adjusting foot into the child car seats. In some cases, the angle to which a child car seat can be adjusted is still not sufficient to provide an optimal 45 degree recline angle. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that the caregiver use rolled up towels or extruded foam (float noodles) to adjust the angle of the child car seat. However, rolled up towels or float noodles can leave a large margin of error during the installation of the child car seat. Furthermore, the towels may not be rolled up tight enough, which could lead to shifting. Moreover, both rolled up towels and float noodles can interfere with the straps that are used to secure the child car seat to the vehicle seat. [0004] There are several conventional aftermarket products that are used to adjust the angle of a child car seat. One aftermarket product is basically an oversized (diameter) float noodle with a cylindrical cross-section. This product provides only one fixed adjustment angle. Once the child grows out of the child car seat, the product becomes obsolete and is removed from the vehicle, at which point it can be easily misplaced. Also, the product is made of closed cell foam. The foam is exposed; therefore, the child can pick at the foam and possibly ingest it, which can result in serious complications for the child. [0005] Another aftermarket product is an oversized float noodle with a triangular cross-section. The three irregular sides of the triangle allow the caregiver to rotate the product to three different positions, giving the consumer the ability to adjust the child car seat to three different fixed angles. Again, once the child grows out of the child car seat, the product becomes obsolete and is removed from the vehicle, at which point it can be easily misplaced. This product is also made of closed cell foam, which has similar safety problems as discussed earlier. [0006] Thus, there is a need for an angle adjuster for a rearwardly-facing child car seat that allows for different recline angles for different types and sizes of child car seats and vehicle seats. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] An aspect of the present invention relates to a recline adjustment apparatus locatable on a vehicle seat to control a recline angle of a rearwardly-facing child car seat relative to the vehicle seat. The apparatus includes a cover to be placed on the vehicle seat. The apparatus also includes a recline adjuster. The recline adjuster includes a plurality of height creation pockets coupled to the cover. The recline adjuster also includes a plurality of bolsters sized to be inserted into and removed from respective ones of the height creation pockets. The height creation pockets are arranged so that insertion of selected ones of the bolsters into respective ones of the height creation pockets controls a height of the recline adjuster. [0008] Another aspect of the present invention relates to a recline adjustment apparatus locatable on a vehicle seat to control a recline angle of a rearwardly-facing child car seat relative to the vehicle seat. The apparatus includes a vehicle seat protector and a recline adjuster coupled to the vehicle seat protector. The vehicle seat protector has a surface area greater than a footprint of the child car seat. [0009] A further aspect of the invention relates to a recline adjustment apparatus locatable on a vehicle seat to control a recline angle of a rearwardly-facing child car seat relative to the vehicle seat. The apparatus includes a rollable cover to be placed on the vehicle seat, the rollable cover having an end that can be turned over and formed into a roll, the rollable cover also having an unrolled section. The rollable cover is adapted to be located on the vehicle seat, with the roll at a seat bight area of the vehicle seat, to enable the child car seat, when placed on the rollable cover, to recline at a predetermined recline angle relative to a seat bottom of the vehicle seat. [0010] A still further aspect of the invention relates to a recline adjustment apparatus locatable on a vehicle seat to control a recline angle of a rearwardly-facing child car seat relative to the vehicle seat. The apparatus includes a cover to be placed on the vehicle seat. The apparatus also includes an inflatable bladder provided on the cover. The inflatable bladder is adapted to be placed in a seat bight area of the vehicle seat and to be inflated up to a predetermined amount to set the recline angle of the child car seat. [0011] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention as claimed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. [0013] FIGS. 1-4 are perspective views of a first embodiment of a recline adjustment apparatus, showing four different angle adjustment modes. [0014] FIG. 5 is a side view of the recline adjustment apparatus used to provide angle adjustment for a child car seat. [0015] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the recline adjustment apparatus. [0016] FIG. 7 is a detailed perspective view of storage pockets of the recline adjustment apparatus. [0017] FIG. 8 is a detailed perspective view of height creation pockets of the recline adjustment apparatus. [0018] FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a recline adjustment apparatus according to a second embodiment. [0019] FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of a recline adjustment apparatus according to a third embodiment. [0020] FIGS. 11A and 11B are side elevational views of a recline adjustment apparatus according to a fourth embodiment, showing two different angle adjustment modes. Continue reading about Recline adjustment apparatus... Full patent description for Recline adjustment apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Recline adjustment apparatus patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Recline adjustment apparatus or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Integrated seatbelt in a cantilevered stowable seat with an improved dump locking mechanism Next Patent Application: Device for adjusting the degree of preload of the springs in office chair mechanisms Industry Class: Chairs and seats ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Recline adjustment apparatus patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.11674 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Software: Finance , AI , Databases , Development , Document , Navigation , Error 174 |
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